Secret Sketches

When Jon had enough of the studio and all the trappings of enclosure he often packed some brushes , pencils and crayons and paints into a suitcase and hit road . Inspired by the surroundings of wherever he went he sketched images of life on bits of paper for future reference and larger canvases .

Never once had he planned a destination usually he just got on a train , or a bus or a boat and found somewhere out there .

This particular episode he had landed in Parramatta , the heart of Sydney and a nice place to call home under the concrete roof of Lennox Bridge .
When Jon awoke on the first day of this sketching project , the traffic had already began to crawl over his head . People on motor bikes and in their cars made their way to factories and offices .
Jon had always liked to keep out of their way in case their inquisitive eyes ever discovered his sleeping quarters or his landing zone . In the past he had often become a victim of unwelcome visitors at night because he had been spotted by someone during the daylight hours .
To prevent his nights becoming uncomfortable he always buried his sleeping bag and suitcase somewhere out of sight
Jon wiped the sleep away from his eyes and slowly stretched into the day .
He hide his suitcase and sleeping bag before making a stroll along the banks of Parramatta river .
Unseen by most people was the way he liked to live and work . Art had been a passionate way of life for him for most of his life .
Jon had decided long ago to disappear from high society and become what most would say was a reclusive lifestyle .
He didn’t need to make any apologies for the way he lived . He didn’t need anyone’s tick or confirmation to the kind of work he was doing .
In fact he really didn’t need people in his life anymore . All he wanted was to be left alone to do his work .
All he lived for was his sketches and portraits of life .
Jon had placed images of life on various canvases of the hidden spaces and the many places around where he lived .
This particular project was around Parramatta Park and hopefully he wanted to show his final works in a public exhibition one day in the future .
This exhibition was not meant in any way to appease or to be appreciated it was to allow an opportunity to finance an overseas project .
He had this idea of doing some sketches in the worlds most uninhabited places and in order to do that he required some extra funds .
So this Parramatta project was the springboard that would hopefully propel his talent in that direction .
So Jon on the first morning in Parramatta took up a place in the early morning sunlight . With his pencils and sketch pad he started to sketch some of the scenes before him .
Shrieking cockatoos perched on branches of Jacaranda trees . They overlooked their natural abode like kings or queens on a throne . Their place yellow feathered head dresses stood tall on their heads . Proudly adorned with royalty they graced the sketchers portrait of life with their nobility and . distant reign of the empty sky .
As other residents of nature showed themselves to the park their presence stirred Jon to introduce them in his sketch .
The geese near the picnic areas by the river gathered around in a circle gossiping in gaggles as they do . Ducks glided in to quack to the new day . They played hide and seek with their friends, diving under the water and then resurfacing somewhere else a few minutes later . In a special way all the inhabitants of the park welcomed the regular visitors and the tourists .
He began to feel hunger and decided to go grab a bite to eat which meant a walk to some shop or café . On his walk for sustenance he passed some eyes that for one reason or another stared coldly in his direction .
Jon dreaded those looks . Again and again he tried to keep his eyes from looking directly at those people in case those people would sling verbal abuse at him .
Once or twice before he had paid the price for saying the wrong thing to the wrong person .
With the morning in full swing Jon returned to his place on the river bank .
He spied rats along the river bank rats scurrying for cover into their holes . Water bugs hovered over the muddy surface of Parramatta river . He often thought of dragonflies like messengers who carried secrets between heaven and hell .
Now and then ducks disappeared under the water and resurface in another spot .On both sides of the river bank weeping willow trees draped their branches humbly down to the beauty of life in the park .
Beyond the cover of tall conifers , acorns lay that scattered around the mossy barked pathway that twisted its way to Parramatta Stadium, the home ground of The Eels rugby league team .
Along other pathways in the park Jon discovered early morning joggers who pounded their way into the day .
Slowly Jon started to admire the images of life he saw in the park .
Each day there was a regular routine of people and their different lifestyles .
There were over stressed mums out with their ever colic under digestive babies in strollers .There were the lonely or separated women and men out walking their huge hairy dogs . Then their were the joggers on some personal fitness attitude to life . What ever the image Jon felt a camaraderie with them and tried to bring it to life in his work .
His own daily routine was similar to theirs .
Up early with a sense of ritual attached to it life in the park had now become his everyday existence .
There were certain parallels to what he saw that gave a purpose to what he was doing with his life .
Each day was never pre planned . Life was making a contribution to it .
Each morning had its own sound and its own image .
Like the helicopter up high in the sky , or the skid mark left by some jet across the blue sky, or the gentle clouds drifting over the traffic . Outside the park were other images like the daily standstill on Lennox Bridge where horns were tooting in trucks and cars with engines roaring and exhausts spluttering out deadly fumes into the air .
Jon never dwelled to much on those images but instead would seek out some other gentle presence of life .
Jon never liked to keep away for too long in the outdoors in case he like it too much so after a six month period he made his way back to the studio .
His journey back through the city streets was as fast and furious at it came .
He was wanting now to begin the final drafts to the sketches he had been working on .
Very soon he knew his works would be complete and placed at the mercy of those professional art dealers and business people in the industry .
His work was always respected whenever it was in public view .
He was always shown warm affectionate and welcome from the art critics and money was usually not a problem . For him life was good .
He had made it as an artist and somewhere between the loneliness and the passionate lifestyle he found a reason to life .
On the evening of the Parramatta Park exhibition Jon’s work were was really saying a lot .
People everywhere wanted to ask questions about the new project but Jon left the answers in a suitcase waiting to be found .
A cacophony of requests were being thrown at Jon who stood there like a lamb at the slaughter house .

“I’ll take the one called Bread On The Water Jon . How much do you want for it ? “
“I’ll give you double what you want for the Lennox Roof scene .“
“Would you do another of the Morning Jogger for me Jon ?”
“How much money do you want for the Willows piece ?”

Jon’s agent approached and whispered how much was made so far . Then as the night was drawing to an end Jon took a microphone and thanked everyone for coming .
After he finished talking he was approached by a young schoolgirl who asked ,
“It is true art needs lonely spots .“
He smiled and said ,
“Yea , you’ve got to listen life and try to capture the stillness that’s there .”
“What advice would you give someone just starting out?”
She said .

“Jon asked .
”I’ll tell you what just abandon yourself to things and then you’ll find out for yourself . You have to find out for yourself .“
She said .
“Mt teacher tells me I am too obsessive and over confident with my artwork .“

“That’s a good place to start .
Jon replied and he continued , .

As an artist one never knows what will happen . So to be obsessed is necessary . It must occupy your life so that nothing or no one else can exist outside of what you are doing . If that is where you’re at then maybe you’ll find the perseverance to continue with the work you do as an artist .“

The people in charge of the expedition explained that it was time to close the Theatre . It had been a very successful evening for Jon who now had more than enough funds to pay for his trip .
Jon looked at the young schoolgirl and wished her good luck .
Maybe like him she would get a break .
Maybe she might choose another career . Who really knows he though but he could see something about her that he recognised as a passion and a desire to find those secret places the world may never see.

The End

By Paul McCann